19 Drugstore Shampoos That Are Just as Good as Expensive Ones, According to Editors

As a beauty editor, I've been lucky enough to try some of the most expensive and best haircare brands on the market, but sometimes nothing compares to washing your hair with a cheap and cheerful drugstore shampoo.

From Oribe to Augustinus Bader, I've tested plenty of luxury shampoos, and honestly, sometimes it's hard to tell the difference when compared to more affordable formulas. Don't get me wrong, salon-quality haircare is worth it when it comes to things such as hair straighteners or hair masks, but when it comes to shampoo, all I really want is a formula that is going to cleanse my roots without stripping my hair (or breaking the bank).

As it turns out, the whole team at Who What Wear UK feels the same. In fact, some of their favourite shampoos of all time are some of the most affordable options. So, of course, I asked them to share all of their top recommendations with me.

When choosing a drugstore shampoo, it's still important to keep your hair type and hair needs in mind, but you'll often find that there are plenty of cheaper options available. So, if you're wondering which affordable shampoos team Who What Wear UK can't live without, then keep on scrolling...

Best Drugstore Shampoos, as Recommended by Editors

• Best for Dry Hair: Aussie Miracle Moist Shampoo, £6
• Best for Hair Growth: UKLASH Hair Shampoo, £15
• Best for Breakage: Charles Worthington Grow Strong Activating Shampoo, £10
• Best for Thinning Hair: Dove Density and Growth Shampoo, £8

1. Aussie Miracle Moist Shampoo

Why we love it: With Australian macadamia nut oil to deeply condition the hair, this shampoo will leave your roots feeling clean without stripping them of moisture.

Editor review: "I love Aussie shampoos," says Who What Wear UK beauty editor, Eleanor Vousden. "They leave my hair feeling really soft and shiny on a budget. The miracle moisture range is particularly good at hydrating my dry lengths while smoothing flyaways."

2. UKLASH Hair Shampoo

Why we love it: This shampoo takes a 360 approach to hair health, aiming to look after the health of your scalp as the starting point while nourishing your strands as it cleanses.

Editor review: "I've been on a hair health journey recently, and this shampoo has been designed to improve scalp health and create the best environment for hair growth," explains Who What Wear UK deputy beauty editor, Grace Lindsay. "Pineapple extract and amino acids stimulate the scalp while vitamin B5 nourishes and strengthens. If you're also on a hair health journey, then I highly recommend giving this a go. It's suitable for all hair types and even offers anti-dandruff technology."

3. Charles Worthington Grow Strong Activating Shampoo

Why we love it: Great for anyone with fragile hair or coloured hair that's prone to breakage, this gentle shampoo stimulates the scalp and makes hair stronger.

Editor review: "Another shampoo that has helped on my hair health journey is this shampoo from Charles Worthington," says Lindsay. "It works to keep your scalp healthy and reduce breakage, which is definitely something I suffer with. No, it won't magically reverse years of heat damage, but what it will do is cleanse your scalp and leave your hair feeling a little bit stronger."

4. L'Oréal Paris Elvive Hydra Hyaluronic Acid Shampoo

Why we love it: As the name suggests, this formula is packed with hyaluronic acid, so it's a great choice for dehydrated hair—helping it to retain moisture for extra softness and shine.

Editor review: "I often get really dry hair, so I love how moisturised and nourished this makes my scalp and hair feel," says Who What Wear UK junior writer, Brittany Davy. "It's also so lightweight. It gives me the silky-looking hair I want without making it too greasy or feeling weighed down."

5. Monday Haircare Moisture Shampoo

Why we love it: This hydrating formula gently cleanses the scalp and is full of naturally nourishing ingredients such as coconut oil, shea butter and vitamin E—perfect for adding a hydration boost to more dry or textured hair.

Editor review: "I love the look of this shampoo and having a pump makes it so much easier in the shower," says Who What Wear UK social media editor, Megan Storey. "My hair smells great and always feels super healthy whenever I use this."

6. Monday Haircare Smooth Shampoo

Why we love it: From the bottle itself to the formula inside, this drugstore formula rivals some of the most expensive that we've tried. It's packed with avocado oil and wheat proteins to help create a protective barrier on the hair that adds shine without weighing it down.

Editor review: "I tried Monday’s Smooth Shampoo for Who What Wear’s Next in Beauty awards a couple of years ago, and I was so impressed," says former Who What Wear UK senior shopping editor, Emily Dawes. "Before I knew the price tag, I had presumed it was a really high-end product because the effects (and cute packaging and delicious smell) were just so good! Now I’m a complete convert and will always stock up on my Boots run, choosing it over other run-of-the-mill, affordable brands I used to use."

7. Neutrogena T/Gel Anti Dandruff Shampoo

Why we love it: If you suffer from an oilier scalp, this is a great choice. This shampoo works to remove excess oil from the very first wash and features salicylic acid to fight hair flakiness at the same time.

Editor review: "Neutrogena's T/gel shampoo is the unsung hero of shampoos—not only does it actually work as a gentle anti-dandruff cleansing shampoo, but it always leaves me with great smelling hair and doesn't break the bank," says former Who What Wear UK affiliate manager, Jerrylyn Saguiped.

8. TRESemmé Lamellar Shine Shampoo

Why we love it: You know the kind of shine that your hair has after you've left a salon following a professional wash and blow-dry? This shampoo makes it genuinely achievable at home. Lamellar technology coats the hair strands to smooth and add a glassy shine that lasts.

Editor review: "I've used TRESemmé for years as it's one of the few brands that leaves my hair feeling hydrated and shiny, plus it's seriously affordable," says Who What Wear UK shopping editor, Florrie Alexander. "Also, they do smaller bottles, which are great for travel."

9. ORS Olive Oil Creamy Aloe Shampoo

Why we love it: A deeply nourishing drugstore shampoo that cleanses and moisturises curly hair types without adding any extra weight. It's rich in amino acids to add shine and lock in hydration, alongside olive oil to naturally boost shine.

Editor review: "The aloe vera and panthenol in this formula counteract any dryness that shampoo can sometimes cause Afro-textured hair, and although it’s far from a cleansing cream, the texture is quite creamy for a shampoo," says beauty contributor, Keeks Reid.

10. Noughty To The Rescue Shampoo

Why we love it: Anyone with dry hair will get on well with this drugstore shampoo, which drenches hair in moisture thanks to an abundance of natural emollients.

Editor review: "Noughty formulas are free of silicones and sulphates, so you know that the soft feeling post-wash is thanks to the infusion of ingredients rather than your hair being coated in a faux-silkiness," says Reid.

11. Cantu Shea Butter for Natural Hair Sulfate-Free Cleansing Cream Shampoo

Why we love it: Formulated with 100% pure shea butter, you know that your hair is going to feel nourished after using this.

Editor review: "First, if you’re a fan of sugary cocktail scents, you’ll love the smell of this shampoo," says Reid. "It’s marketed as a cleansing cream, but I would say it errs more on the side of a rich, creamy shampoo."

12. Umberto Giannini Curl Jelly Wash Shampoo

Why we love it: While any textured hair will likely get on well with this, those with loose curls will love the way that this jelly shampoo works with your natural curl to deliver extra bounce and softness without weighing them down.

Editor review: "I’m a huge fan of the Curl Jelly range, and this shampoo is great for wavy-to-curly hair to gently lift dirt without causing frizz," says Reid. "Free from silicones, parabens and sulphates, this formula has been designed to work with your natural curls and leave you with a bouncy finish."

13. Lush Tofu Shampoo

Why we love it: A soft and creamy shampoo that uses silken tofu (yes, really) to strengthen and smooth frazzled hair and restore a natural glow.

Editor review: "I’m officially a fan of Lush’s Tofu Shampoo," says Who What Wear UK news writer, Natalie Munro. "Packed with protein, this creamy formula brought back the shine my hair had been missing for a while. It lathers effortlessly, releasing a subtle, sweet scent and leaves my hair feeling clean, fresh and noticeably less frizzy—making it a winner in my book."

14. Faith In Nature Lavender & Geranium Shampoo

Why we love it: This vegan formula is paraben and SLS free and is made with 100% natural fragrance and essential oils. The lavender scent is perfect for soothing the mind and scalp.

Editor review: "I seem to change shampoos and conditioners often, but one of the few brands that I always come back to is Faith in Nature," says Munro. "Formulated with active natural ingredients, I find that the products are hydrating enough for my dry hair and always leave it feeling clean."

15. The Body Shop Shea Intense Repair Shampoo

Why we love it: Very thick or very dry hair will adore this replenishing drugstore shampoo, which is brimming with shea butter to strengthen hair, reduce breakage and improve hydration.

Editor review: "When purchasing shampoos, I rarely look for affordable options as I always believed you couldn't find a cheap product that gently cleanses your scalp. So, when I tried The Body Shop's best-selling Shea Intense Repair Shampoo, I was very delighted to have my mind changed on the matter," says Who What Wear UK SEO writer, Ava Gilchrist.

"The mild formula melts like butter into the roots and lathers like a dream. It doesn't use any detoxifying agents to remove daily buildup and oils, but I still felt like I had hit reset on my hair. I'll still use a shampoo designed for oily hair most hair washes, but I can see myself switching to this one from time to time when I want to give my scalp a night off."

16. Arkive All Day Everyday Shampoo

Why we love it: Delivering exactly what it says on the bottle, this is a great all-rounder for all hair types—meaning everyone in your household can get in on the action. Whether you wash your hair daily or not, this is gentle enough to use regularly without causing scalp irritation, and it leaves hair beautifully clean and smelling amazing.

Editor review: "Created by renowned hairdresser Adam Reed, all of Arkive's affordable hair products are salon-standard, but it's this everyday shampoo that comes highly-rated from me," says Who What Wear managing editor, Poppy Nash. "It removes grease and grime with ease, but never leaves hair feeling stripped, thanks to moisture-restoring baobab protein."

17. Aveeno Daily Moisture+ Oat Milk Blend Shampoo

Why we love it: Clinically proven to soothe and calm itchy scalps, this gentle formula will ease itchiness and reduce flakiness while gently cleansing hair.

Editor review: "I bought Aveeno’s Daily Moisture+ Oat Milk Blend Shampoo on the recommendation of my hairdresser, and as someone who usually only uses salon-grade hair products, I’m really impressed," says Who What Wear UK copy editor, Georgia Seago. "I have quite a dry and itchy scalp, and I find this to be really soothing whilst also leaving my hair feeling hydrated. A lot of shampoos for itchy scalps can strip the moisture from hair, but not this one."

18. Goldwell Dualsenses Rich Repair Restoring Shampoo

Why we love it: Specially formulated for really damaged hair, this drugstore shampoo is gentle yet mighty—repairing hair from the inside out to leave hair looking healthy and restored.

Editor review: "My hair is prone to breakage after exposing it to heat and in-salon colour, and so I always have a bottle of this shampoo on standby when my hair needs a reboot," says Vousden. "My hair colour is also prone to fading, but I find that this shampoo actually helps to revive and prolong my hair colour in between appointments, and I've seen a notable difference in the quality of my hair since using it. Whilst it's on the slightly more expensive side, it's worth spending a bit more on it, in my opinion."

19. Dove Density and Growth Shampoo

Why we love it: Taking a root-to-tip approach to hair health, this drugstore shampoo aims to strengthen the scalp barrier to prevent hair fall and improve the strength of your new hair as it grows. And all for just £8.

Editor review: "Since having my children and suffering from major postpartum hair loss, the overall density of my hair has dramatically decreased, and I'm always looking for hair formulas that can help to strengthen and boost growth," says freelance beauty editor and Who What Wear contributor Mica Ricketts. "Usually that means spending a lot of money on science-led formulas, but the new Dove Density and Growth range really focuses on helping to strengthen your hair and scalp for an impressively low price. The shampoo in particular has really helped to nourish and volumise my hair while looking after my scalp, which is often prone to flakiness."

Are Salon or Drugstore Shampoos Better?

Drugstore shampoos have received a bad rap in recent years, mainly due to two ingredients: silicone and SLS. If you already have dry hair or you bleach it, you’ll want to avoid shampoos with sodium laureth sulphate (SLS). This is the foaming agent in a lot of shampoos, and while many higher-end shampoos have developed clever alternatives, such as using coconut-derived foaming aids, most cheaper ones still opt for this. The same goes for people who colour their hair, as SLS can lift the colour too. However, if you have natural, moisture-balanced hair or oily roots, SLS isn’t damaging to your strands.

Silicones, on the other hand, are great for smoothing (and making your hair look and feel shiny after you shampoo), but over time, these can build up on the hair. So, if you love a shampoo that you love that contains silicone, consider using a clarifying shampoo now and again to remove build-up and prevent hair from becoming limp.

Whatever shampoo you do opt for, just make sure you’re treating your ends to a hydrating mask and protecting your hair from any heat styling you’re doing.

Why Trust Us

At Who What Wear UK, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our editors have tested thousands of products, including skincare, makeup, hair and nails, over the years and work closely with trusted experts—dermatologists, make-up artists and leading industry insiders—to ensure every guide is well-researched, inclusive and relevant to you.

We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.